I enjoy listening to our local radio station, Mountain FM, most of the time.
I have emailed Rogers Media head to ask our radio station to stop playing the Band Aid song Do they know it is Christmas? I have asked the station by phoning in and explaining to the station why it is an inappropriate song. But the station stated that they will continue playing the song because it's popular. However, I have strong objections, as shared by Ed Sheeran and others recently.
In this day and age, we should not be promoting a racist and disrespectful song that tries to raise money for those who we are actually insulting. If you read the lyrics, there are negative stereotypes of all Africans who live in "dread and fear" where "nothing grows, no rain or rivers flow" with "only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears."
The song others people of the Global South, for example, asking to "pray for the other ones" and being smug about "thank(ing) God it's them instead of you" suffering. The white saviour complex is so evident. By raising money to donate, our collective responsibilities end there. World hunger is a complex issue that should not be taken lightly, and this song is complicit in spreading ignorance. As you are aware, there are many issues that lead to hunger - remnants of colonialism, war, and climate change, to name a few.
I think that it is time to shelve the song Do they know it is Christmas?
Ji Ai Cho
Squamish
Editor’s note: Reached for comment, the station said: “A representative from Mountain FM is happy to hear and discuss their concerns.”
